[Remote] Project Manager - Sponsored Research (SIRO)

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Penn State University is seeking a Project Manager - Sponsored Research to support complex interdisciplinary research initiatives. The role involves full-lifecycle project management including proposal development, financial stewardship, and compliance oversight for sponsored research awards.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of research administration activities, including proposal development, award setup, post-award management, reporting, and closeout
• Coordinate administrative and cross-functional project teams during pre-award activities and lead coordination during post-award execution
• Serve as a primary liaison with Principal Investigators, subrecipients, sponsors, PSU central offices, and departmental staff
• Coordinate and support multidisciplinary working groups and committees
• Attend and lead administrative and technical project meetings
• Track milestones, deliverables, timelines, reporting deadlines, extensions, and prior approval requirements
• Coordinate preparation of sponsor-required financial and administrative reports
• Review sponsor and University policies to ensure compliance and shared understanding across project teams
• Assess project-specific requirements and coordinate with appropriate units to support execution
• Use project management tools to monitor progress, communicate status, and track performance metrics
• Recommend and implement process improvements and develop standard operating procedures to enhance project execution
• Planning and forecasting budgets aligned with project goals and milestones
• Monitoring financial performance and spending trends to ensure appropriate burn rates
• Coordinating budget revisions, supplemental funding requests, and prior approval submissions
• Developing and maintaining financial tracking tools for expenditures, commitments, and projections
• Overseeing financial management of subrecipients, including review of budgets, expenditures, and modifications
• Coordinating complex sponsor financial reporting with research administration and finance offices
• Supporting timely and compliant financial and administrative closeout
• Participating in internal and external audits related to sponsored projects

Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite (advanced proficiency in MS Excel required)
• Experience with collaborative tools such as Airtable, GitHub, Slack, Teams, and Google Drive
• Experience with project management platforms
• Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams
• Bachelor's Degree
• 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Experience in project management of research administration
• Experience overseeing sponsored project budgets and financial monitoring of research awards
• Familiarity with federal sponsor requirements (e.g., NIH, DOD, NSF) and foundation-funded (i.e. Bill and Melinda Gates) projects
• Familiarity with DOD, foundation grant, and training grant management systems is a plus

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

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